The nine people detained in connection with the death of five members of Mexican music band Grupo Fugitivo have ties with the Gulf Cartel, authorities said.
Concretely, they appear to be connected with a faction of the group, labeled a terrorist group by the Trump organization earlier this year, according to Noticias Telemundo.
Authorities confirmed on Thursday that that five bodies found in the state of Tamaulipas belong to the members of the band, who disappeared on May 25 shortly after performing at a private event in the Riberas de Rancho Grande neighborhood.
The Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office has not detailed the exact location or the condition the bodies were in. However, five burned bodies were found in the area, with media speculating that it could be them.
"The location is being evaluated. At the time there are elements that allow us to infer this is the place where they were unfortunately killed," authorities said.
The band's van was found abandoned shortly after they disappeared. It showed no signs of violence, but the trailer used to transport their musical equipment was missing. The lead vocalist of the group, Carlos Gonzalez, is the only survivor, but largely by chance: he never boarded the van where the rest of the band members were because he was late.
The case unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence in Tamaulipas, a state long marred by cartel-related conflict. Just nine days before the band went missing, the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, witnessed a major shootout between rival criminal groups.
Artists and performers in the region are no strangers to danger. Several musicians have faced threats or even violence in recent years, underscoring the risks faced by those who perform in areas with heavy cartel activity.
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